Bob Leahy on what words to use and what words to avoid when describing risk and ability to transmit applicable to an undetectable viral load – and why that’s important

The language of HIV has evolved at an accelerated pace in recent years. It can be a struggle to keep up, to use the right words which are not only precise in meaning but don’t offend. And precision in language has never been more important around communicating that Undetectable = Untransmittable.
The campaign's message has now reached over 60 countries around the globe, with endorsements from over 400 organizations. Journalists have covered the topic regularly, from CNN down. But do they a

From Kenya, Kimutai Kemboi: "John (not his real name) is a barber in one of the estates in Nairobi. He hails from a family where stigma is bred! He is among the many people for whom disclosure is a hell because stigma is their immediate surrounding."

"I tested positive seven years ago and up to date no member from my immediate family knows about and I am not ready to disclose to them soon. I just vowed to live with my condition in silence rather than taking the risk of looking for worse by revealing my status. I saw what my aunt went through before she passed on and I can't imagine going through the same hell." This is what John, a barber in an estate within Nairobi, told me as he shaved me. We came to be friends after I went to his shop

From AsiaSociety.org, Heather Clydesdale reports on the Chinese govenments slow and secretive response to HIV and other pandemics.

China's officials are now leading a more open campaign against infectious diseases. (2dogs/Flickr)
China, with its state-controlled media and strong government presence, has traditionally tried to keep news of a pandemic under wraps. An outbreak of an illness can weaken public confidence and scare away tourists, business travelers, and investors. But as China has discovered, this strategy in fact can help deadly diseases boil over and become epidemics.
The Chinese government’s slow and sec

"Russia is virtually the only developed country where the number of new HIV infections and the number of AIDS-related deaths is on the rise." From Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, this report by Robert Coalson and Anastasia Kuzina.

When the Russian government's system for purchasing and distributing the vital drugs needed to combat the virus that causes AIDS breaks down, patients use social-media networks to give one another medicine and hope. (file photo)
MOSCOW -- Many of the posts on the website Pereboi.ru -- a chat room for Russians diagnosed with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS -- are alarming. "Today my husband went to the clinic and they told him that they gave out all the medicine on Monday," wrote Nelli from U

What is the impact of PrEP on quality of life? From HIV i-Base, Simon Collins reports

The impact of PrEP on quality of life in reducing HIV-related anxiety and more dynamic and fulfilled sex lives is potentially as important as hard endpoints for reduced HIV infections.
Mitzy Gafos presented experiences from using PrEP as part of the UK PROUD study, based on semi-structured interviews with 41 participants.
In addition to reporting behavioural changes, the results gave insight into psychological impact of PrEP.
Many of these imply significant changes in outlooks and approach

Kenya's Kimutai Kemboi speaks against those who would use their HIV as a weapon of revenge.

As much as you think of going on a 'revenge mission', bear in your mind that your target might be also undertaking a similar mission. Be careful not to commit suicide!
Some people become so bitter when they turn out to be HIV positive, they feel that they should not die alone. Such thoughts are so evil and should be highly condemned. In fact, tough laws should be formulated to prosecute these people with ill minds. I get surprised when I hear someone say, “HIV is not meant for trees but peo

Risky business.
Risk taker.
High risk.
That’s not how people want to be seen when it comes to HIV. In the epidemic, the word “risk” is associated with the notion of “doing something wrong.”
So using the words “at risk” becomes risky in itself. It runs the risk of turning people off, and away from prevention messages. People may not avail themselves of condoms or PrEP (the HIV prevention pill) if they don’t identify with risk. If they don’t identify with HIV ris

Kenyan HIV activist Kimutai Kemboi: " Let no one deceive you that you are healed and should stop taking medication, because of claims of divine interventions."

The information below is adapted from an African context, Kenya being a part.
As days go by, they turn to weeks, months, years, decades and then centuries; but at the rate we're going, the century will be a nightmare simply because this era is filled with deceit. People are easily confused and filled with doubt. Many people living with HIV are falling to such deceits. Their condition makes them very desperate, to such an extent that they are moved easily by what people say and easily believ

Earlier this week I was asked to write an article on rape and my experience as a male who has been a victim of rape in my adult life. I thought that I would have been able to jot down a few paragraphs and be done by the deadline, but here I am writing this article with only two hours left before the article is scrapped and my chances of writing for this highly esteemed LGBT magazine ever again are over and done. I thought that I would have been able to chronicle my experiences without having a

Kenyan HIV activist Kimutai Kemboi shares the story of one of his Facebook friends who is a reformed sex worker.

This evening I was privileged to have a conversation with one of my Facebook friends who is a reformed sex worker. We discussed several issues at length and when I asked her if I could share her sentiments. She agreed but requested anonymity, to which I agreed.
She said she has been one of my followers but had not found courage to interact with me or share her experience with me. That only lasted till this evening when she got the courage to share with me about her life. This is how the conve